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Home / Mountain Bikes and Gear / Strava

7 Free and Inexpensive Apps that Turn Your Smartphone into a GPS for Mountain Biking

MotionX ($1.99, iOS only) MotionX is designed as a multi-sport outdoor GPS app that many mountain bikers use in lieu of a dedicated GPS device. Beyond offering the standard readouts on distance, time, speed, and elevation (plus charts plotting metrics over time), MotionX offers the ability to download basemaps before you head out of cellphone range. …

By Jeff Barber
December 15, 2016 Last Updated: August 5, 2024

13 comments

Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article.

MotionX ($1.99, iOS only)

MotionX is designed as a multi-sport outdoor GPS app that many mountain bikers use in lieu of a dedicated GPS device. Beyond offering the standard readouts on distance, time, speed, and elevation (plus charts plotting metrics over time), MotionX offers the ability to download basemaps before you head out of cellphone range. This way, you can utilize maps for navigation no matter how far out you travel!

Use this if: You want a GPS app that can help you navigate unfamiliar terrain. This app gets pretty close to a full-fledged, top-of-the-line GPS unit, minus advanced training metrics or the ability to pair a heart rate monitor or power meter.

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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13 Comments

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djcmmoore Tennessee // 2014
Dec 15, 2016

AllTrails is my second most used GPS, Tracking and trail app in addition to Strava. I really like the way it maps a ride and tracks where you are in real time. Many times in the woods when I am lost or wondering which way to go, I just look at the map and it shows where I currently am on the trail and all the different trails along my ride. Makes it easy to choose the right turnoff in the middle of a wilderness.

I think this is tied in with Singletracks. I have tried many different apps and keep coming back to AllTrails, it along with Singletracks and Mountain Bike Project are the best for finding new trails to ride. Doing a lot of travelling I always have my bike. When there is time, I open these apps and find trails near me to ride with directions to the trail head.

Great stuff!

Happy Trails and Merry Christmas

0 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Dec 15, 2016

Thanks for the Singletracks mention. I don't really consider our app to be a GPS replacement since it doesn't track speed or distance or anything like that--it's meant to be more of a map substitute than a GPS competitor.

Cheers!

0 reply

Roberto Bernal 2017
Aug 2, 2017

Deberias probar y analizar una app llamada oruxmaps, es sencillamente la app definitiva para cualquer actividad deportiva, es increible!!!!

0 reply

streakie United Kingdom // 2015
Dec 26, 2016

Downloaded this app,
Chose method of login
App wold not open for use until I allowed screen overlay, which was already enabled
Then it wanted contacts permission, which were allowed,
App then went back to overlay message requiring enabled, which was enabled
And asked for contacts permission which was again allowed,
And repeat,,,,
So I uninstalled it, as if this cant work I cant use the app

0 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Dec 27, 2016

Which app are you talking about?

0 reply

Bruno Marques 2019
May 1, 2019

For use as a trail guide there a some very good apps like View Ranger, MyTrails, Gps viewer and Komoot, this last one is amazing for planning a gps track

0 reply

j.hanners Virginia // 2016
Dec 15, 2016

I have had Cyclemeter for a couple of years. Inexpensive app that tracks my ride, stopped time and ride time calculated, elevation ascent and decent, avg. speed, split times with map of the ride, graphs of ride and more that I don't use. It will email to address chosen as soon as completed. I email myself to pull up on my computer thru a link to your specific ride but could email someone I know who may compete with me on a given ride at a different time. I enjoy this app.as it shows a map of my ride broken into miles. It also will work for running, walking etc.It does not find or show though, it just maps what was rode anywhere.

0 reply

JOEKADZBAN Michigan // 2016
Dec 15, 2016

I've been using endomondo for four years. Being familiar with it, I have also gotten attached to it. It has all the bells and whistles and has a neat history function as well. And it can be connected to a host of other sensors for heart rate, etc...
Give it a try. I think you'll like it too!

0 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Dec 15, 2016

Yes, I should have included Endomondo! This app seems to be one of the most popular among Android users. Looks like there is now an iPhone version of the app as well.

0 reply

Big ragu Arizona // 2015
Dec 19, 2016

Runkeeper pairs with a heart rate monitor. I do it regularly. I have a Samsung 6 edge and use a Wahoo chest strap to connect via Bluetooth. Works very well and will show your heart rate at any given spot on the mapped ride, etc.

0 reply

GTXC4 Louisiana // 2011
May 21, 2017

Runtastic Mountain Bike Pro has outperformed Map My Ride everytime. I run them both and Runtastic will track very well out in remote areas, like out in Moab and surrounding areas, you know places where you're away from towers. Since Under Armor took Map My Ride, I've found it to be more intermittent and less reliable with each update. Just mine experience there. Take care.

-GT

0 reply

Erik Hillard 2016
Dec 15, 2016

Will Runtastic work correctly in Airplane Mode?

0 reply

JOEKADZBAN Michigan // 2016
Dec 15, 2016

It may - I know Endomondo does, because it uses GPS and not cell data to compute. Go give it a ride and find out!

0 reply

Tagged: android, apps, fitbit, iphone, navigation, runtastic, smartphone, strava, gear

First published December 15, 2016 @ 4:17:40